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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON FOOD AND ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> DATE: June 17, 2008 RE: Comm. 1277/Bill 314 <br /> PLACE: Councilroom <br /> Ben Franklin Building <br /> 333 Kilauea Avenue, 2°a Floor <br /> Hilo, Hawaii <br /> TIME: 11:15 a.m. <br /> <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> <br /> Your Committee on Food and Energy Sustainability, to which was referred Bill 314, reports as <br /> follows: <br /> <br /> Bill 314, transmitted by Council Chair Pete Hoffmann via Communication 1277, dated June 3, <br /> 2008, amends Chapter 2 of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended), by <br /> amending Article 2 and adding a new article creating the Department of Energy Sustainability. <br /> <br /> This bill also creates new positions, which consists of an energy sustainability advisor who shall <br /> serve as the head of office, an energy policy analyst, a green building expert, a clerk, and other <br /> staff as needed. <br /> <br /> There was one testifier from Hilo, Tim Rees, who spoke in opposition to Bill 314. Michael <br /> Kramer, from Kona, and Elizabeth Cole, from Hilo, both testified in support of Bill 314. <br /> <br /> Council Chair Pete Hoffmann reminded Council Members that his proposed amendment to the <br /> Operating Budget that would have provided funding for these new positions had failed. For this <br /> reason, Bill 314 only creates the positions and does not fund them. These positions (energy <br /> sustainability advisor, energy policy analyst, and a green building expert) were recommended by <br /> the Hawaii County Sustainable Energy Plan, which was sponsored by the Department of <br /> Research and Development and approved by the Mayor. Mr. Hoffmann questioned as to why <br /> the County of Hawaii is the only county in the State that has not reviewed its Energy Code since <br /> 1989. He stated that the County does not have the resources available to move this initiative <br /> forward, which is why trained and qualified personnel are needed for the job. <br /> <br /> Council Member Donald Ikeda stated that he supports the creation of a new department, but is <br /> concerned about how it is being formed. He stated that a new department is usually created by a <br /> Charter amendment. He is also concerned that there is no funding in the budget for these <br /> positions. He recalled that Jane Testa, Director of the Department of Research and <br /> Development, did not think a new department was needed at this time because they already have <br /> a position in the department funded by the State. <br /> <br /> <br /> FESC Report No. 05 <br />